Malina the Mentor

Malina bonded with Mari and Reyna like they had known each other their entire lives. It was like fate, the way these three women came together. 

For Maribel Gonzales, Malina Floyd was so much more than a friend. She was a mentor, someone Mari could rely on to give genuine, helpful feedback. She was a confidant, someone Mari could talk to with the full knowledge she was safe. 

But most importantly, she was an older sister who could relate to Mari wanting to find herself. 

Mari and Reyna's parents died when she was 10. 10 years old and orphaned, suddenly being taken care of by her sister instead of her mom. And Jake, a man her sister had only been seeing for a few months, stepped up to help. 

Reyna stopped being her older sister the day she was forced to become her mom. 

So Malina being able to fill that role again was something Mari didn't realize she needed. 

But something else Mari didn't know, was that there was someone jealous of just how much she had come to rely on Malina. It just wasn't the person she was expecting. 

Jake Seresin has been in Maribel's life since she was 10. Having a sister himself, Jake knew how important it was to stay together. He had done everything in his power for years to help the Gonzalez sisters. Reyna was the love of his life. And Mari was the little sister he never knew he wanted. 

So to suddenly see her depending on someone else for the things she used to depend on him for hurt. Just a little. He tried to tell himself it was a good thing. Mari needed more good, steady adult figures in her life, especially to help her navigate the trials of young adulthood. 

But why did it seem like she couldn't rely on him the way she used to? 

The answer was simple, really. Mari had found someone who wasn't with her for all those trails. Someone with fresh eyes, who wouldn't treat her with kid gloves. 

That's not to say Mari didn't need Jake anymore. There were plenty of things she needed her brother for. 

(Namely, anything she needed his strength for, but that was a given.)

Mari needed him when she was feeling low. He had been her rock for over 7 years and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. She needed when it came to understand why boys did the things they did, to figure things out from a male perspective. She needed that overprotectiveness that she liked to complain about but loved all the same. 

Most importantly, she just needed her brother to be there. And he was. He was always there when she needed him, no matter how frequently or infrequently that would be. 

Because Malina may be a new mentor, a new friend, a new rock. But Jake would always be the first. 

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

Bob's Band

You remember Bob's Band? You know the one he was playing with when he met our beloved Malina? 

Yeah, they are still around. Still kicking and playing and killing it. And yes, Bob does still play with them when he has the chance. 

(It's just not as often as it was before.) 

Well, as it turns out, Malina wanted to do something special for their 5th wedding anniversary. So they had a Vow Renewal with all their friends and family present. Including Bob's Band. 

Who, more importantly, happened to be the band for the night. They gladly played all night long to celebrate the Floyd Family. 

Bob had been with them for years, most of them friends since college. They were happy to do this for him. But only if he promised to play a few songs with them. 

Boy, were his Navy friends and colleagues surprised at this other side of Bob. Sure, they had been told her was a drummer and the story of how Bob and Malina had met.

But knowing it and witnessing it are two very different things. 

Needless to say, there were some new revelations about the resident shy guy of the Dagger Squadron. 

He just wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing yet. 

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

The Event Photographer 

Malina, being the talented photographer she is, had unintentionally become the designated Event Photography anytime there was a get together or special event. 

She had done both sets of Mari's graduations, Reyna and Jake's wedding, Fanboy's wedding and many other events. 

Recently, she had done her own newborn shoots although she had allowed Mari to test herself with a maternity shoot for her first-born. 

But now she was doing Reyna's maternity photos while Mari was doing hers. Mari had also convinced the two expecting mothers to do a joint photoshoot, thinking it would be fun. 

(Spoiler alert, it was.) 

It's not that Malina minded, it's what she did for a living. But it was nice to not always have a camera ready and waiting at functions and events. Being able to just relax and take it all in was nice too. 

So Mal had no qualms about officially splitting the title of Event Photographer with Mari once she graduated. 

Hey, the more the merrier. 

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

You Can Sing?!

Many people don't know that Bob is not the only musically talented person in the Floyd Family. 

Malina is actually a very talented singer. She mostly just sings at home when doing some work, occasionally serenading the dogs with a performance or two. 

Sometimes, she'll sing sweet nothings to Bob as they dance in their living room, or hum under her breath to get him relaxed and sleepy. 

But one night at karaoke is all she needed to shock them all. 

After killing it with an Aaliyah song, Malina made her way back to the group who were in the process of picking their jaws up off the floor. 

"I didn't know you could sing, much less like that!" Javy all but yelled out, though he could barely be heard over the next performer. 

Mal shrugged. "It's not like I go around randomly singing all the time. I only do that at home." 

Reyna, already a few drinks in, points to the woman. "You, me, next round. I know just the song to do." 

Mal knows better than to argue. "Yes ma'am, lead the way." 

Let's just say everyone was congratulating Bob and Jake on being the lucky men they were to have such amazing women choose them. 

Mal and Rey absolutely stole the show with a beautifully heartbreaking rendition of 'Come to Your Senses' from the musical Tick, Tick, Boom. 

Natasha clapped wildly for the pair as they came descending back into the crowd. 

"Well, we know one thing for sure. Your kids are definitely gonna have music running through their veins." 

✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈ 

Word count: 1,149

Guys I literally can't believe it. That's it! That's all I've got for Reverie! 

I hope you liked these little headcannons, some of them broke my heart while others had me laughing while writing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all so much. 

Love you all!!